JJ Wetherholt Shines Again for Cards -- This Time to Rob Shohei Ohtani, Beat Dodgers

Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol discusses the spectacular defense played by second baseman JJ Wetherholt and shortstop Masyn Winn on Saturday night in a 3-2 win over the Dodgers. ST. LOUIS – Having already influenced the Cardinals greatly with his clutch hitting late in games and his surprising power to all fields from the leadoff spot, standout rookie JJ Wetherholt used his glove to contribute to another victory on Saturday night.

Wetherholt ended the first inning by completing a double play and then made a spectacular diving snag of a liner off the bat of Shohei Ohtani and doubled Alex Freeland off first base in the third inning. Incredibly, Wetherholt’s best was still to come as he ranged to his left for a grounder and threw back across his body to Masyn Winn at second base. The Gold Glove shortstop then fired a 92-mph strike to first for a third double play in four innings.

Wetherholt’s elite defense set the tone for a Cardinals’ club that turned four double plays in five innings and used a Jordan Walker homer and back-to-back doubles from Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson to beat the Dodgers 3-2 at Busch Stadium. “They were both really cool, but the Ohtani one I got really hype about that one,” said Wetherholt of the snag of Ohtani’s liner and the fourth inning double play he started. “The Teoscar (Hernandez) one was probably more difficult, but that one was topped off by Masyn being able to make a crazy throw.

That one was probably cooler, but the Ohtani one got me more fired up. Hard answer. ” JJ Leatherholt 🔒 pic.